Bicycles: transportation or leisure?

What is the function of a bicycle? Not surprisingly, the answer will vary depending on where you grew up. Over the past year I've noticed that most Europeans view them as another form of transportation - like a car or motorcycle. They get you from one place to another. Americans typically associate bicycles with leisure, not transportation. Most American children happily "play" with them until they're old enough to graduate to a car. Rarely will you see a adult American on a bicycle. It was pretty refreshing to see men in suits riding a bicycle to work.

Just a random thought....